Childhood Dream comes true [personal story]

Some of you know that I have a full time job as a business analyst with one of the largest IT companies in the world. I help insurance companies do their IT better in that job. Almost a week ago, I have resigned from my day time job.

Back story:

As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to run my own company. It is one of the reasons why I pursued MBA. But over the course of years, the part in me that is curious, risk taking and stubborn has vanished and was replaced by cautious, calculated and flexible self. May be it is all the education and social set up, or may be it is just me. The change has been subtle but very powerful. So much that when I finished MBA in 2006, I did not consider setting up my own company, even for a second. I was bending backwards to impress the recruiters and get a steady 9 to 5 job.

Year 2007 – the year of change:

The transformation from cautious to curious has been gradual and began in 2007. I went to USA for the first time in my life and met several interesting and enterprising people. I also realized the potential of web based startups. They are low cost, easy to setup and run and can be managed on part-time basis. Around the same time , my crush with Excel happened. So I started writing about it on my personal blog (yes, PHD used to be a personal blog before 2007. Dig deep in to archives and you will find a lot stories, experiences and trivia). But I also started a small website in the movie domain. The movie site didnt go that well, but PHD kept on rocking.

In the meanwhile, my day job kept me busy and gave me lots of challenging assignments. So I pushed PHD to the side track and worked on it in the nights and weekends. But somewhere in my heart I knew that I would have to quit my job and pursue PHD as a full time venture. But the cautious side of me never let it happen.

Years 2008 and 2009 – Foundation years:

Along the years (in 2008 and 2009) I cleared my student loans and most of the mortgage (house loan). I also made some buffer money by working in foreign locations and monetizing PHD’s traffic thru ads. All this was poured in to our bank accounts to create little cushion for us. Even then I wasnt thinking about quitting my job and starting a company.

Year 2010 – Finally,

So in year 2010 I took some of the money made from PM Templates and invested in the Excel School program. Again many of you have welcomed the program with both hands and I saw a generous boost in part time business. But even then I wasn’t quite sure if working on PHD alone is a good idea.

Then something strange happened. Between day job, work on PHD I was spending very little time my family. My work demanded that I be in Denmark for extended time and I could hardly find any time to be with Jo and the kids. I was being a bad dad and husband. And that feeling was killing me inside.

So in March 2010 I came back to India on vacation. My initial plan was to take a 6 month sabbatical from day job and spend that time with my wife and kids. But after spending a month with them I couldn’t imagine going back to work. So I sent in my resignation last week.

What next?

I jokingly tell my wife that instead of working for one boss, I have now 9500 bosses. Each with different and very high expectations. 🙂

Well, I will devote more time to PHD and update it regularly. I will strive to maintain the quality of posts and interaction here.

I will also launch few new products (may be one product every 2 months) to keep the income stream trickling.

I will be running Excel School on regular basis (or make it as an on-demand product).

I will be doing more Excel Consulting work (Do you need a dashboard or report to be done? Drop me an email to get a quote).

I will be able to conduct on-site training sessions any where in India.

But most importantly I will be there to smile when Jo, Nishanth and Nakshatra wake up from sleep, and when they go to bed. every day. And that makes me happy 🙂

PS: I am planning to chronicle my journey as an entrepreneur at startup desi. Follow me there if you like to know how to run a one man shop online.

Congratulations on following your heart.
You've built a great blog in you spare time, imagine what you can do when you dedicate all of your time to it. Mind you, the idea of spare time when kids come along is non-existent.
Good luck with all you do. Please let me know if I can help.

Best of Luck Chandoo!
You've been a great teacher for so many and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for PhD, yourself and your family. You're an inspiration.
Thank you so much for taking us on your journey.

Hi Chandoo
I'm sure you will prosper in your life... making time for your family is good.... and more time for us... yay. I think there is a market for good excel products and helpers as well as the abundance of free stuff... and I look forward to finding out more about this..
Best wishes
Catherine

I know the feeling. And guess what, this makes two of us 🙂 I moved out of Kaaaagnizant about 3 months ago and went freelance. So far not so bad 🙂 It was not just the travel but the hypocrisy of Business consuling in an IT company that put me off. There wasn't much value except the bit of money that was coming in and I knew, as you know, that it is not worth it in the long run. Godspeed pal! Wish you all the best.

Undoubtedly the best decision you have ever made. I did the same thing a few years ago and have never looked back. Lots more time with my children and the opportunity to really feeling like you are adding value in everything that you do.

Chandoo,
Congratulations! I'm sure you're feeling a little bit anxious, but you can make it happen. I have so much respect for entrepreneurs - it takes a lot of guts. Also, I totally appreciate your decision to spend more time with your family. Family should always be your top priority, even if it means being taking a low-paying, unrewarding job (easier said than done). Anyways, you'll do great. I love your blog and check it every day. Your daily updates keep it fresh and worth checking.

Dear Chandoo,
Leaving your comfort zone is never easy and there may be times that you might regret taking this decision. Stick to it and you will be happy in the long-term. I am not an enterprenuer like you, but when I left my job to join the education sector in India, I knew I was doing the right thing. It has been an year since and I feel good about it.
Wishing you the best!!
-Amit

Wonderful news, Chandoo. I am sure you will be much happier as will your wife and kids. I am sure you will Excel in all your endeavors. I will look forward to following your progress and reading your blogs. You are a natural and gifted teacher and we will all be benefiting from this move you have made. Good luck and best wishes.

congrats & bring on the new stuff!
how wonderful for your family that they will see you more regularly during their formative years - your wife must be a trusting soul! 🙂
i stumbled on your site less than a year ago, and i am very impressed - particularly with your wide-ranging following!
with such a group of loyal readers & doers, you should NEVER run out of excel ideas to wow us with! best of luck to you & your family --- you deserve it!!

Haha! Very nice! One quickly finds out that leaving a "day job" with one or maybe two bosses to start our venture actually means gaining a new boss with ever customer/client! 🙂 But, its the ONLY way to go! Best of luck!

What's next to be said ? You've coined down priorities in the right order! The 21st century ways of doing business on a worldwide level through the internet certainly gives those few who dares the opportunity to balance work and family time.
All the best
Bernard

You are my man mate!! Way to go.. You got the guts (I could have used better words if this was not a public forum:).. Forget what happens from here, more importantly you will not live to regret "Wish if this when I was young..!" My gut feeling says you will be alright.. You have just transformed yourself into much more from being a Excel superhero! Cheers and all the best!

Wonderful. Enjoy it. Time goes by so quickly. You don't want to miss this time with your kids. I did something similar a number of years ago and have never regretted it. The key thing I have learned is that if you are doing something you enjoy, it always seems to work out. Good luck.

Hey Chandoo... thats a really big decision for you my mentor ! Late though I am in putting my thoughts, but I MUST admit, that I have really learnt a lot from you and your excel tricks for my Job..... My Best Wishes for you and Your Family.. Jo, Nishanth and Nakshatra... 🙂 Give our love to them... We would love to see some more pics of them.. All the very best in your life... today tomorrow and everyday of your life... this is truly a moment of pride for you.... for you have come out of the rut of working for someone and now would be on your own.. I truly respect your decision and would surely like to see more positive changes in your life. Do let us all know.. We all are sure that Chandoo.org would be much more fascinating now and forever!!! Way to go.... YOU ROCK ! 🙂 Enjoy...

Achieving the goals is superior, hence you are superior
the best of good luck
Never forget family
LAMARTEEN SAID "Building up a dream in the air better than digging in ground"
I wish you the very best in your life and dreams that came true

Wow!!!!!!!!! Congratulations............
I have no intention to make a farewell speech, but I just can't stop myself from thanking you for being a wonderful and inspirational boss. You are a great story teller and impeccable analyst. One great quality for which I envy both of you (Axxn) is your patience.
All the very best.

I've being coming here for my Excel for a while - your site is a must for anyone interested in Excel, quite simply. So, in return for your help I promise that if I need to buy anything that is Excel related (training, templates, etc) then I'll come here first. It's nice to know that anything I buy will benefit you and your family (and not the shareholders, etc, etc).

Envy you man for having ba..s of steel, for this crossover from being Dynamic to Static,
Surely Jo, Nishanth and Nakshatra must be over the CHAND.. now.
This one helluva of news for your fans out there. Now since you are at peace with your inner self , may you have the prosperity too.

Hi Chandoo I have been noticing u since ur first post of ALL I wanted to say abt CAT on PG. I used to always dream about going to IIM and all the stuff. I culdnt make in there now i will be going to IRMA( i hope u have heard abt it) I see now its not about the college but its about the person. I truly believe that u can do it. Wish you all the best. May the Force be with you.

I read a great quote by Mark Twain this week that really resonated with me, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Congratulations on 'throwing off the bowlines'. I wish you and your family great success.

I am so excited for you and your family! Any choice that allows family first is the right choice. Congratulations on making the big leap. I look forward to joining the Excel school - maybe you would be willing to have an intermediate/advanced class?! 🙂 Congrats, again.

60 years old and using spreadsheets for 20 years
Thought I was top of our businesses Ex03 heap
Four weeks of dipping into your site and all has changed
It is like using a different prog
Just stick with it
Good Luck
You are amazing

Congratulations, I think all of your followers (including me) will be hungry of more good and fun Excel's post.

I can tell you, that after discovering your blog, I've started to build some dashboards for the projects I'm involved and the results are very satisfactories. Besides that, the very good news, is that my boss likes all those "objectives informations in only one sheet", and the has gave me a lot of "points" on my annual evaluation.

Congratulations PHD! I stumbled across your site in June of 2009 and have been a daily reader since! I am thrilled that you will be able to devote more time to this intelligent and well written blog full of great Excel tips, tricks and geniune PHD wit!

I have been a follower of your blog for long time, really like your passion to learn new things (may it be excel or other stuff), Wish I could take a leaf from ur book of experience.
Wish you good luck!

RE: Childhood Dream comes true [personal story]
You have rediscovered yourself and the "America Dream.” You only had to move to India and resign from your "I want to provide for my family" excuse to being with your family.
Make your family the reason and not an excuse to move forward. If that is not good karma, then I don't know what is.

I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and engaging, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. I'm very happy that I found this during my hunt for something regarding this.

"I was being a bad dad and husband. And that feeling was killing me inside."
I am heading into the same situation, finished my master degree 5 months ago, working at global IT company now in Singapore while my family and a 22mons daughter living in Vietnam. Yet to launch my start-up but we probably try to keep separating for awhile before reuniting for the sake of goodness.

Good thing is it only takes 2-hrs-flight to be back with family, but I can only meet them fortnightly.